St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-17

pendent upon the surrounding country.
Early last spring, before the advent of
the st. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba
railway, a number of people came here
from the East and WeSt-then an OBJ
scure country pOstoffice-eXpecting and
knowing that there would be town es
tablished here, as it is in the midst OF a
beautiful farming and stock country.
Their expectations were not blasted,
for early in June III. A. Bruins, of Moor
head, Mimi, arrived here and at once
proceeded to locate and plat the present
town of WilliSton.
The town occupies beautiful site on
the Missouri river at the junction of
Muddy and Stony creeks, and at a
point where the railroad coming west
taps the Missouri river valley. This
place is the end of freight division,
with shops, ETC., and which will tend to
make it good town. A ten-stall round
house is being built, besides coal sheds.
turning tables, large water tank and
reservoir.
As for the valley of the Missouri, one
can truthfully say it resembles the
Garden of Eden. 1t varies from six to
twenty miles in width, and is only
broken by numerous small creeks of the
purest spring water. The valley of the
Stony and Muddy creeks are about
fifty miles long, and vary from two to
ten miles In width. In a recent hunt
ing expedition toward the source of the
Muddy, country but little explored,
had the pleasure of seeing the most
beautiful chain of small lakes that
L had ever seen. The lakes varied from
One-half mile to ten miles in
length. Ducks, geese. brant and swans
were in abundance. and in our occasional
trampS over the hills that surround the
valley, we would invariably scare up
herds of antelope and black-tail deer.
Whitehall deer are to be found in great
numbers in any of the numerous cotton
wood points along the river.
As am no farmer | cannot give you
much farm talk, but will state few
facts which have come under my per-
sonal observation. Two miles from this
town Robert Mathews owns and OPP
crates farm of some 200 acres, which
this year yielded crop of oats averag-
ing fifty bushels to the acre, and he in
formed me that in one former year the
crop averaged 100 bushels to the acre.
| will here add that Mr.. Mathews is now
cutting his second crop of oats this sum
mer, and judging from the field which L
saw the other day, he will get thirty-hVe
This summer John Barker planted a
garden of eleven acres which yielded a
profit of over $500. Mr.. Barker would
have done better had he not been handi-
capped in his enterprise for want OF
money. He bought all his seeds on
credit, and had but one horse to do his
work. This crop consisted OF potatoes,
corn. cabbage, squash. beans, peas,
watermelGnS, etc.
During the past seven years, Mr..
George Grinnell has been operating
farm of 100 acres, situated in the Mis-
souri, valley, about forty miles below
Williston; his crops this year yielded as
follows: Three hundred acres in wheat
averaged thirty bushels No. hard to
the acre, and the balance of the farm
was in oats, which yielded in actual
measurement SiXty-One bushels to the
acre.
Numerous other facts could be men
toned regarding crops, but no doubt
the foregoing facts will convince the
mOstsk ptical.
Coal and wood can be obtained i'll
abundance. The former is found III
any of the hills which surround the val
leyS. and the latter.aSh and cottonwood,
along the entire Missouri river valley.
Il
tain. about thirty miles south of this
place The coal is a species of Ignite,
very gaseous, burns readily. and makes
very quick and hot fire. Two men i'll
one week can take out enough to last
family during the winter.
As there has Leen no railroad running
through this part of the country previ-
Gus to this summer settlers are scarce,
and as consequence there are miles of
fine farming land still unsettled which
can be taken under the homestead and
presumption laws.
This country is unsurpassed as stock
raising country. Stock can be turned
out in the fall and be found in the spring
alive and in good condition. Long
meadows of fine blue joint grass can be
found in the hills and along the streams,
consequently those who intend to keep
up their stock during the winter do not
suffer for the want of hay. Hay is now
selling at s. per ton.
In concluding | will say to those who
are intending to emigrate West that
Northern Dakota, especially Buford
county, possesses advantages which are
unsurpassed. L. w. GORDON.